Method of forming seams for sheet metal.



PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906.

F. H. GRAFTON.

METHOD OF FORMING SEAMS FOR SHEET METAL.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 29,":l'905 lNVENTOR I n-222k (7 /1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANIQH. GRAFTON, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO vWHEIJLINGr CORRUGATING COMPANY, OF WHEELING, WEST VIR- GINIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

m r-:rnoo OF FORMING SEAMS FOR SHEET'METAL.

Patented bet. so, 1900.

To all whomit may concern:

' Be it known that I, FRANK H. GRAFTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of means of a soldering-iron which melts the solder from a stick or wire as it is moved along the joint. So far as I am aware, this method is the only one heretofore extensively em loyed for forming seams in tin roofing. In t e old method there is often a great waste of solder, and sometimes the solder is unevenl dis tributed and places are left uncovere and thus leaks occur. Furthermore, this process is comparatively slow.

According to my invention I bend the ends of the sheets to form interlocking flanges in the usual way, interlock these flanges, and then insert" a strip of solder in the 'oint of sufficient size to extend ap roximate y from end toendof the oint and to provide sufficient material to ll the 0 en seam on one side of the sheets when t e 'oint is compressed and the solder is melte The strips of solder'are preferablyall 'cut to approximately the same length. This corresponds ap 'roximately, with the length of the joint, an they are dipped in a suitable flux before being dropped into the joint. After this the 'oint or seam is compressed, and then it is eated and compressed in such manner as to melt the solder and cause it to spread and to unite the adjacent interlocking faces of the joint on one side and to close the seam at the outer edge of the joint.

- I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings diagrammatically how my invention may be carried out.-

Figure 1 is a diagram showing how sheets of tin are joined according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the seam before the strip of solder is inserted and before the joint is com ressed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the soliier inserted. Fi 4 shows the seam as it'a pears after the so der is inserted and after the first compressing operation. Fig. 5 shows a completed seam after the solder has been melted and spread and the final compression has been given. Figs. 6"

and 7 are perspective views illustrating means which may be employed for melting the solder and giving the final compression. Fig. 6 shows the position of the parts before compression has taken place, and Fig. 7 shows the parts in the act of compressing the seam.

posite end with a flange a in the usual way and are interlocked in the ordinary manner.

The sheets of tin A are formed at each op- After two sheets have been joined in the I manner shown at 1 in Fig. 1 a strip of solder B is dropped into the joint in the manner shown at 2 in Fig. 1. This strip is quite thin, preferably thinner than sheet-tin; but it is of sufficient size to provide enough solder to cogpletely fill the joint when melted and to fir y secure the adjacent folds of the jointtogether. It will be observed that the strip is dropped into the open joint edgewise, so that it rests on the bottom of the joint after it is inserted. The strips B have a flux applied tothem before they are deposited in the joint. This may be done b dipping the strips in a flux,-such as pow cred rosin, or the strips may be stored in a box of powdered rosin and taken out one at atime, as reuired. After a strip has been dropped into t e joint, as indicated at 2, the seam is compressed in any suitableway and will then appear as indicated at 3 in Fig. -1. Then the seam is heated and compressed, so that it is flattened to the desired extent, and the solder is melted and spread in such way as to fill the joint in the manner indicated at 4in Fi 1.

The seam or joint is then complete. It Wil be them together along the fiat inner faces of the adjacent folds. It will be understood that the outer faces of the sheets are those at the right in Figs. 1 to and that it is not necessary: to solder the joint at 4 as this 1s on the underside and will not be exposed.

While I preferably use tapes or thin strips of solder, it is possible to use wire made of solder; but this is not as good. Any suitable mechanism may be employed to form the joints at 1 2 Bin Fig. 1, and there are many ways inwhich the joint may be finished at 4 in Fig. 1. One Way of doing this is indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. In these figures, C indicates 'an anvil, and D a cross-bar.

The anvil is fixedor stationary, while the cross-bar is adapted to move toward and from the anvil. The; cross-bar is hollowed out at d and contains a burner E, to which gas or oil may be supplied in well-known ways. The cross-bar is supported by cams or eccentrics F, which may be operated to raise and lower, it. I The sheets A are fed between the anvil and crossbar in the-manner indicated in Fig. 6, and when the seam is between them the solder is melted, and theseam is compressed as the cross-bar rises in the manner indicated in Fig.7.

By my improvements I am enabled to 'oin sheets of metal very rapidly and to pro uce uniform and perfect joints without waste of solder. The seam is not so apt to break as theold seam, because the solder unites the partsnot only at the edge of the seam, but also, on the flat inner faces thereof. It is evident that while one seam is receiving a strip 1 of solder another seam may be compresse while a third seam is being heated and compressed, so that my process may be embodied in apparatus which will form rapidly strips of roofing, plates, or sheets of indefinite length made up of sections joined by seams of an improved construction.

I have described the preferred way of carrying out my invention; but the steps of the process may be somewhat modified. For instance, while I (prefer to compress the seam in the manner in icated at 3 in Fig. 1, before it is subjected to the heating and final compressing the step indicated at 3 may be omitted. By compressing I mean flattening down the joint. This maybe effected by continuous pressure, by hammering, or in other Well-known ways.

I claim as my invention 1. The method herein described of joining sheets of metal, which consists in bending the ends of the sheets to form interlockin flanges causing these flanges to en age eac other, then inserting a strip of so der in the open joint between the flange of one sheet and the body portion of the other sheet and then compressing and heatin the a joint to melt and spread the solder an flatten the seam.

2. The method herein described of 'oining sheets of metal, which consists in bendmg the ends of the sheets to form interlocking flanges, causing these flanges to engage each other, dropping a strip 0 solder edgewise into the open joint to cause it to rest on the bottom of the seam between the flange of one sheet and the bodyportion of the other sheet, thenheating and compressing the joint to melt and spread the solder and cause it to close the seam at its outer edge and also to unite the flat inner faces of the seam.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

FRANK H. GRAFTON. 

